Hashtag-filled Instagram posts could soon be a thing of the past as the platform introduces new limits on the number of tags users can add per post. According to Instagram boss Adam Mosseri, posts will now be limited to five hashtags to prioritize quality over quantity.
In a recent post on his Instagram advice channel, Mosseri explained the move by saying, “While I know it can be tempting to use more, a few specific tags actually perform better than a long list of general tags. Quality over quantity.”
He added that while hashtags can help with searches, they don’t necessarily increase a post’s reach, so users should “focus on identifying what type of content resonates with your audience” rather than stuffing posts with hashtags.
This isn’t the first time Instagram has tried to curb hashtag overload. The company has repeatedly pointed out that hashtags are no longer as central to content discovery as they once were, with the goal of stopping abuse and spammy behavior.
According to SocialMediaToday, the social media platform has been testing hashtag limits over the past year, with its most recent experiment limiting users to three per post. It has now settled on a limit of five hashtags as the change is rolled out more widely.
Instagram shares tips for smarter use of hashtags
In a recent Threads post, the company also offered tips on how to best use hashtags, encouraging creators to “be conscious of hashtags” and use those that are relevant to the content they post. It also warns against spamming too many irrelevant or generic hashtags in the caption as it could affect the performance of the post.
The move signals that Instagram is focused on driving meaningful engagement and discouraging users from outsmarting the system. By using fewer, more relevant tags, creators can reach audiences who are genuinely interested in the topic in question, while giving users clearer, easier-to-read captions.
